AI Damage2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350: common problems
Owners of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 filed 241 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 241
- involving a crash
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 62% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 3% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 3% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 149 complaints (62% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 26 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 14 complaints (6% of all).
- Structure: 11 complaints (5% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 9 complaints (4% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 7-speed
Drive: RWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 241 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 149 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
This unintended acceleration in my 2010 mercedes-benz glk350 is alarming and concerning.
The damage would have been repairable until my car caught on fire. It looked like it started in the inside above the gas tank area, but the man working at the impound lot the next day said it looked electrical. Either way, the impact should not cause a mercedes to catch on fire.
Airbags did not deploy. Back and neck injuries resulted from the accident. Mercedes did not alert car owners that a "service bulletin" was issued november 1, 2010 regarding a flaw in the airbag system. Over 130 mercedes models are affected by bulletin sb-91-60-193.
I had kept my seat belt on and was only slightly bruised. At first I thought I must have done something wrong, as I told the police, but realized later that was impossible. I am a good and careful driver as all records will attest. I could not have jammed my foot down on the gas pedal.
Sudden unintended acceleration probably due to accidentally hitting cruise control handle, which is right above turn signal (defective design issue in many mercedes models), when attempting to park in disabled parking area.
The air bags did not deploy during the crash. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 11,000.
I was slowly coasting into a handicapped parking space at a hardware store when the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. The brakes would not stop the car. The car ran over a median and several concrete poles and finally came to a stop when it hit metal, fire equipment. I filed a police report.
The car rolled downhill for some 30 ft. And crashed into the rear of a parked vehicle. Fortunately my salesman was not injured and the car that was hit was an abandoned vehicle with no plates. The damage to my vehicle was to my passenger side front bumper.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,689 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GLK350 has 100 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 241, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, fuel/propulsion system, suspension. Total complaints: 241. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (9%), rust, corrosion (7%), warning lights, check engine (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2010 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2010 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.